Hopper with bottom discharge opening and means for metering the passage of granular material through said opening into a delivery conduit



Aprll 22, 1952 R|DLEY 2,594,072

HOPPER WITH BOTTOM DISCHARGE OPENING, AND MEANS FOR METERING THE PASSAGE OF' GRANULAR MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO A DELIVERY CONDUIT Filed March 29, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /AN M R/DLEK INVEN TOR.

HUEBNER. BE E HL E R, WORRE L HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL A T TORNEVS.

April 22, 1952 R D I 2,594,072

HOPPER WITH BOTTOM DISCHARGE OPENING, AND MEANS.

FOR METERING THE PASSAGE OF GRANULAR MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO A DELIVERY CONDUIT Filed March 29, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /AN M R/DL EV,

INVEN TOR.

HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORREL,

HERZIG 8 CALDWELL,

Aprll 22, 1952 RlDLEY 2,594,072

HOPPER WITH BOTTOM DISCHARGE OPENING, AND MEANS FOR METERING THE PASSAGE 0F GRANULAR MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO A DELIVERY CONDUIT Filed March 29, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'Illllll IAN M R/DLEK INVEN TOR.

HUEBNER. BEE/IL ER, WORREL HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL,

WA TTQRNEVS.

Aprll 22, 1952 1, RIDLEY 2,594,072

HOPPER WITH BOTTOM DISCHARGE OPENING, AND MEANS FOR METERING THE PASSAGE OF GRANULAR MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO A DELIVERY CONDUIT Filed March 29, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1/1 u iii M 124 m5 Z6 35 a 149 /,4/v M. R/DLEK- INVENTOR.

HUEBNEP, BE'EHLER. WORREL. HERZ/G J CALDWELL, 92 32 By A TTORZVEYS'.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ian M. Ridley, Burbank, Calif.

Application March 29, 1949, Serial No. 84,172

'7 Claims.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide in an apparatus of the described character an improved body and hopper arrangement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved metering means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved direct motor and drive arrangement with respect to the hopper structure, heretofore a source of manufacturing and operating inefficiency.

Another further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved cement gun apparatus, the working parts of which are susceptible of ready disassembly for replaceability of parts or for repair.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus having improved accessibility and which is easy to manipulate and to transport from place to place, practical and trouble-free in operation, and commercially reproduceable at relatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention include provision of a new and improved valve control construction and manipulative means therefor, improved quick release suspension for the metering apparatus and hose, and specific improvements over prior art devices intended to accomplish generally similar purposes. I

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cement gun apparatus made in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View thereof partially in section, other parts being cut away.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional elevational view of an upper hopper and associated portions of the apparatus as on a line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional elevational view of a lower hopper and associated portions of the apparatus taken as on a line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detailed enlarged elevational view of a portion of the metering orifice and discharge T, parts being cut away.

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of a metering blade.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus generally designated by way of illustration, and not of limitation, in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a frame It], upper and lower feed hoppers II and I2, respectively, a valve assembly generally designated at I 3, and a nozzle assembly generally designated at M. A metering means may include a motor l5 and other parts to be described extending through and located at the bottom of the lowermost hopper where they are generally designated by the numeral l6.

The frame I!) may comprise an axle 20 supported as upon wheels 2| and carrying uprights 22, laterals 23 and cradle members 24, towhich the remaining equipment may be secured as by welding at any convenient points 25. A yoketype support 26 formed of angle iron or the like may be welded as at 21 to the lowermost hopper and may extend forwardly with its two legs 28 terminating in a cross-piece 29, thereby defining a loop 30 in which blast hoses as 3! and 32 leading to the nozzle assembly M of the machine may be carried.

The upper hopper II may comprise a funnelshaped body 35 welded as at 35 to a bell-shaped top 31, the latter being formed with an opening 38 having a seat 39 formed therein and secured thereto as by a bolt 48. A funnel 4| may be welded along its bottom edge 42 as to the seat 39.

An extensible handle 45 may be slidably held within a sleeve 46 and secured in any desired position of extension therein as by a set screw 41. An arm 48 may be rigidly supported or welded upon the sleeve 46 and pivotally connected as at 50 to a lug 5| supporting a bell valve 52 designed to elevate or lower the same to seat it against the lip 53 closing or opening the inlet formed thereby. The sleeve 46 may be pivoted on a bolt 5'! by means of a lug 58 secured to the hopper as by rivets 59.

An internally threaded sleeve 60 welded as at 6| to the hopper l I may hold a male coupling member 62 preferably rigidly secured to a barrel 65 holding bearings 66 providing pivotal support for the shank Bl of a handle 68, keyed to an L-shaped link 69 pivotally supporting a link 10 by means of which a bell valve I I may be manually controlled. A bent end 72 loosely held in a lug I3 facilitates removal of the valve H when a key 14 is also removed to free the link 10.

In its uppermost position the bell valve H seats against the preferably resilient ring 15 providing an opening 16 between the upper hopper H and the lower hopper l2. Said upper hopper is supported upon the lower hopper at one side thereof in vertical offset relationship as by a reinforcing sleeve 80 welded to the top SI of the lowermost hopper and to the bottom side portion of the portion 85 welded together therearound in over-.

lapping relationship in a similar manner to the upper hopper I I as a line 85.

A cup-shaped lower end 8? is welded at 83 to the bottom edge of the body Brackets 89 supporting tie bolts 98 releasably retain a yoke SiIi in position against a T 92 comprising a portion of the metering mechanism hereinafter described.

At the top of the lowermost hopper I2, the motor I may be connected as by a coupling 95 with a gear box 96 secured as by a tongue and groove or spline connection S'l'to a vertical shaft 98, both the gear box and said shaft 98 being preferably centrally disposed along the vertical axis of the lowermost hopper. Any bolts Ill-) may be employed to secure the motor and gear box, respectively, to the top SI of the lowermost hopper which may be formed with a hole It]! to afford access to a box or cylinder H22 welded at itstop edge I113 to the underside of the top8I,

said box having a bottom I04 forming a central At the lower end of the sleeve ilil, any suitable bearing I :2 may be provided. A radial portth-readed for a plug I I3 provides means for keeping the sleeve H39 loaded with a lubricant.

A plug H5 may be threadedl-y secured to the lower end of the shaft 98 and weldedas at II6 to a coupling I'I'I formed with an open lower end or slot Ill designed for the slidable vertical re ception of a metering blade I I8 adapted upon =rotation-of the shaft 98 to be rotated by means of said coupling.

The metering blade H8 may be chamfered at its upper end l2l, as most clearly shown in Figure 6, to facilitate its insertion in the slot Hi". At its lower end, the same may be formed with a slot I22 defining legs I23 and I22 whose beveled ends I25 are designed to conform to the tapered surface I23 of hardened seat l2? formed arounda metering orifice I28 and pressed, or otherwise firmly secured, in a recess I29 formed as in the discharge 'T- 92. The ends I25 may form a flush sliding'fit with the seat surface 26 but preferablyare constructed for rotation in one direction, as-clockwise, for which purpose a leading edge I30 may make line contact with the seat I2'I while the edges I25 are relieved from said leading edge I30 to the opposite trailing edge I3I to facilitate rotation and prevent lifting and relative overriding of the blade I I8 upon the granules of a mass metered through the orifice I28.

Threadedly secured into the lower end'o-f the cup-shaped member 8'! is-a plug 132 having-a bore I33 and'counterbored at I34 for the reception, whether by press fit, threadably, or optionally slidably, of the upturned leg I35 of the T 92, whereby the seat I2? is firmly held. The bore I33 is preferably countersunk or tapered at its upper end IB B.

'A pin I40 is press fit in the blade IIS and extends laterally upon either'side thereof for the support of a U-shaped agitator-I4! which is slot- 4 ted at I42 for slidable, non-rotatable securement upon the blade I I8. 7

A hose section I is connected with a source of compressed air, not shown, and is secured as by a coupling I5I to a valve l52 which controls the air supply to the apparatus. The compressed air istapped as at a'T E53 by. means of a valve I54 and hose I55 to operate, with unreduced pressure, the air motor I5.

By means of. a pipeISB, someof the air is conducted through a pressure-regulating valve I51 from which itis conducted by a preferably flexible hose I58 ,via valve I69 through the run lei of the T 92'whence it is carried by the delivery hose 32 to the discharge nozzle IE5 for use in any desired manner.

A hose I66 conducts the compressed air as from another T I61 to a double-acting valve I68 controlled as by a handle lGB whereby the air may be released to the atmosphere through an'elbow ill] orthrough .a pipe IlI welded at M2 to the upper hopper II for discharge into the interior of said hopper; Another hose I15 may conduct air from the T- I61! through a valve Ilfi'to a I I8 which; byitsunique construction, effectivelypipe Ill-similarly weldedinto the hopper at I78 for discharge into the interior of said lowermost hopper.

Both hoppers I5 and I2 are air-tight in construction. The lowermost I2 may be formed with an access hole I86 provided as with a collar itl and fitted with a cover I82 normally held tightly closed by an arm and .bolt assembly I83, 53:3.

In the-operation of the above-described apparatus, a preferably dry feed of sand and/or cement in suitable proportions, usually pre-rnixed if combined, is introduced into the upper hopper through the opening at 39', air from the pipe I'II' havingbeen previously shut off and the bell valve 52 lowered by means of the handle 45. Said mix, as. indicated at 'I 9!], falls to the bottom of the hopper I I. Because of the. normal closure of the bell valve II assured 'by continued airpressure in the lower hopper supplied by the pipe I'II, said material does. not drop into. the lower hopper I2 until, upon manual closure of the valve 52 and equalization of pressure within the hoppers I I and I2 occasioned by opening of thevalve I68, air under equal pressure then enters the upper hopper through pipe I'II: Due tosuch equalization of pressureinthe two hoppers, the weight of the;

atmospheric exhaust Ill) and opening of the inlet valve -52 which manually or optionally automatically, may occasionthe closing of the valve II, maintaining a desired air pressure within the lower hopper I 2.

Said material, upon dropping within the lower hopper, is conducted, together with the entrapped-air, under pressure, to-the metering cup 81, thence to the metering orifice atl36, I33, I28 and I28, to the discharge T92; where it is picked, up and forcibly ejected through-dischargenozzle I by compressedair from the hose I53 During operation the motor I5 continually turns the shaft 98as through the gear box-96 and hence continua-11y rotates the metering blade meters the granular material through the orifice I28'in a well-mixed continuous stream of constant volume. It may be noted that. the blade H8, as well as the agitator I II rotating therewith, are both fioatingly mounted so that the bladeII8 rests upon the seat I21 due to gravitational forces only and rotates freely and slidably within the port I33. It is free, however, to slide upwardly and downwardly within the slot III in the coupling I I1. Similarly, the agitator I 4| .rests only gravitationally upon the pin I40 and is free to move slightly sidewise or slidably up or down during its rotation to obtain an effective mixing action.

The ideal depth of the slot I22 from the ends thereof as at the ends of the legs I23 and I24 to the top edge of said slot is approximately equal to the diameter of the orifice I28. Such proportioning of the parts results in optimum use. and advantage of the slot I22 whereby metered material flows freely through said slot I22 and into said orifice I28. The width of the slot should also approximate the diameter of the orifice.

A lesser depth of the slot lessens the effectiveness of the same, together with the legs I23 and I 24, as a metering device.

Air under pressure from a source not shown to a hose I90 may be fed together with water from the hose 3| in any desired amount as by a valve I92 and conduit I93 to the discharge nozzle I65, to wet the outgoing dry mixture I90 as may be required. Where the apparatus is used as a sand blaster, the mixture I90 will usually comprise only dry sand, and water from the hose 3I will not be required.

In order to disassemble the essential operating parts of the apparatus, particularly of the metering mechanism, it is only necessary to loosen the bolts I on top of the hopper I2 whereby the plug I08 and its associated parts, including the tube I09 and shaft 98 with its coupling II! and sleeve I96, are readily accessible through the hole IOI, and may be withdrawn therefrom by unthreading the member I08 from the flange I06 and pulling the assembly upwardly through the holes I and I03.

Similarly, the lower portion of the metering apparatus may be removed by loosening the bolts 90 at the bottom of the hopper I I 2, dropping the yoke 9|, releasing the T 92, and permitting the retraction, as by unscrewing of the plug I32, of the blade H8. The freed agitator III, as Well as all other internal areas and parts of the lowermost hopper, may be reached through the hand hole I80.

The sleeve I09 and shaft 98 may be replaced as by a pipe secured at its upper end at the connection 91, which latter may, if desired, extend into the interior of the main body 85 below the box I02, the gear box drive and said connection 91 then extending downwardly below said box. The lower end of the pipe may be flattened to axially accommodate and drive the blade II8 to any desired floating or axially fixed extent relative to the seat I21.

In addition, the seat I2! may be integral with a cap slidable over the end of the leg I35 of the T 92 for ease of replacement thereover.

Sometimes it is feasible to increase the effective capacity of the upper hopper II by elimination of the bell valve 52 depending thereinto and substitution of a laterally, i. e., horizontally slidable and horizontally disposed plate-type closure normally seating under air pressure, from within the hopper II, against the lip 53 or the like.

I Preferably said lip 53 should be arubber-like gasket.

This inventionlfeatures an improved blast feed apparatus, improved metering mechanism, and an improved, more convenient and effective arrangement of the parts thereof, including its driving means.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures.

The invention having been herein described, what is claimed and sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In cement blowing apparatus comprising a funnel-shaped hopper outlet means including metering means at the lower end of the hopper and power means for operating said metering means, to regulate the downward flow of afeed material through said outlet means, said outlet means comprising a metering orifice having a tapered seat around the upper end thereof, said metering means comprising an elongate metering blade projecting longitudinally above the orifice and having a tapered lower end conforming to the taper of said seat normally bearing gravitationally thereagainst for rotative sliding movement, an axially disposed driven element having a slot-shaped recess adapted loosely to receive the upper end of said blade and hold. the same upright in operative position relative to said orifice, .a transverse pin projecting through the blade and a substantially U-shaped agitator having a bottom slot adapted to slidably receive the provided with elongate blade, said agitator adapted to be carried on said transverse pin and rotated together with and by means of said elongate blade.

2. In a cement blowing apparatu of the character described, including a hopper for a dry cement mix, a downwardly directed annular discharge outlet at the bottom of said hopper and a substantially horizontal conduit below said outlet adapted to receive the dry mix therefrom, an improved metering means coaxial with said outlet comprising a vertical body portion and spaced leg portions below said body portion, said leg portions being separated horizontally a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the discharge outlet, the lower ends of said leg portions being adapted to rotate around the edge of said discharge outlet straddling the opening therein, said leg portions having an axial length approximately as great as the diameter of said outlet and power means for rotating said metering means on a vertical axis coincident with the axis of the opening.

3. In a cement blowing apparatus of the character described, including a hopper for a dry cement mix, a downwardly directed annular discharge outlet at the bottom of said hopper in communication with the interior of the hopper. and a ubstantially horizontal conduit below said outlet adapted to receive the dry mix therefrom, an improved metering means coaxial with said outlet comprising a vertical body portion and spaced leg portions below said body portion, said leg portions being separated horizontally a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the discharge outlet, the lower ends of said leg portions being adapted to slide over the edge of said discharge outlet straddling'the opening-therein,

said leg portion having an aidal'length approximately as great as the diameter:ofsaidroutlet; power means for rotating said metering means on a vertical axis coincident with theaxis of the opening, said power means including a vertical longitudinally slotted drive shaft having an axial non-circular opening in the lower end thereof adapted to receive the upper end ofthe metering bar, said upper end of the metering bar' being complementary to the opening in the drive shaft for free telescoping longitudinal movement and driving rotative association therewith.

4. In the apparatus of claim 2, said metering means further consisting of an elongate fiat blade of greater width than said opening and formed with a longitudinal slot defininga bi-furcat'e lower end straddling said opening and rotatable aroundthe upper end of the outlet in gravitational trio-- tional engagement therewith for stirring said cement mix adjacent saidopening and slot, through said slot and into said opening.

5. In the apparatus of claim-2, said metering means further consisting of-an elongate fiat blade of greater width than said opening and formed with a longitudinal slot defining a bifurcate lower end straddling said opening and rotatable around the upper end of the outlet'in gravitational frictional engagement therewith for stirring said cement mix adjacent said opening and slot, through said slot and into saidopening, the upper end of said outlet and saidbifurcate end being complementally tapered downwardly and'inwardly relative to said opening,

6, In a cement blowing apparatus of the character described,vincluding a hopper for a dry cement mix and a vertical discharge outlet in the bottom of the hopper: a metering device comprising a vertical shaft extending through said hopper, an inverted U-shaped' metering member having the legs thereof disposed uponopposite sides of the discharge outlet, said legsbeing separated horizontally at their ends a distance equal to the diameter of the openingof the discharge outlet, said legs being approximately as long as said diameter of the opening insaid discharge outlet; an axially slidable driving connection between said. shaft and'said port member'whereby said port member rests gravitationally against theupper end of said discharge outlet; and power' means for driving said shaft for axially rotating said port member;

7'. A hopper and outlet means including metering means in the bottom of the hopper, for regulating the downward flow of a feedmaterial through said outlet means, the improvement said outlet means vcomprising a.

comprising: 7 metering orifice having a tapered? seat, around the upper end thereof, said metering means comprising a substantially fiat elongate metering blade projecting longitudinally above the orifice andhaving a'tapered lower end conforming tothe taper of said seat normally rotating thereat, said fiat elongatev blade being bifurcate at its lower end forming opposite legs chamfered to provide clearance in a given direction of rotation whereby saidllegs make approximate line contact with said seat at diametrically opposite sides of the seat.

' IAN M. RIDLEYT REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

